A Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO), “Enable Oyo”, has empowered forty young persons living with disabilities through a three-day employability and soft skills training programme.

The skill acquisition, which was organised under “Project Enable Oyo 2026”, with a focus on preparing young persons with disabilities for decent work and greater participation in the workplace, was held between Monday and Wednesday at the Diagnostic Centre, Federal College of Education (Special), Oyo.

The initiative, themed: “Empowering Young Persons with Disabilities for Decent Work,” was sponsored by the European Union under the Youth Empowerment Fund, in collaboration with Global Youth Mobilisation.

“It was designed to equip participants with practical employability skills, soft skills and knowledge needed to navigate the world of work with confidence and professionalism.

The three-day programme brought together young persons across different disability groups, including the blind or visually impaired; persons who are deaf or hard of hearing; persons with physical disabilities, and persons with albinism. It created an inclusive learning environment where participants could learn from one another and share experiences.

In his opening and welcome address, the Team Lead, Emmanuel Akande Oyedapo, explained that the training was designed to go beyond technical skills by helping participants develop the confidence, attitudes, knowledge and workplace behaviours required to access and retain decent employment opportunities. He encouraged participants to actively engage with every session and apply the knowledge gained beyond the training room.

In his address, the Zonal Coordinator of the National Blind Association, South-West, Comrade Bello Samuel, underscored the importance of creating opportunities that enable persons with disabilities to participate meaningfully in employment and society.

The Head of the Diagnostic Centre for Therapy, Dr Oluokun, also delivered special greetings to the participants, while encouraging the 40 beneficiaries to take the training seriously, stressing that the knowledge acquired would only become valuable when translated into practical action. He urged them not to despise or underestimate what they had been taught, but to make deliberate use of the skills and knowledge gained during the programme.

The three-day programme, which encouraged participants to move from “I cannot” to “I can learn, adapt and contribute”, thus prepared the beneficiaries with skills that can assist them in getting employed wherever they can fit in. Professional ethics to be applied on the job were also impacted on them.

At the end of the training on Wednesday, participants were issued certificates while feedback from the programme provided an opportunity to reflect on the knowledge gained and areas for continued development.

The organisers thus expressed hope that participants would take the lessons beyond the training venue and apply them in their careers, businesses, communities and everyday lives.

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